There is a vast variety of succulents and cacti in terms of their sizes, colors, textures, and shapes. We can readily find a wide range of different sorts and species from all over the world today because of their appeal.
These plants are cherished for their distinctive traits, in addition to their beauty and carefree nature. Are cacti and succulents the same thing? How should these plants be cared for? Are they worthwhile to collect? Can I cultivate them inside? These issues, along with many others, will be covered.
What are succulents?
A group of plants known as succulents or succulent plants have tissues that can store water. Succulent plants can withstand droughts. They have evolved to withstand the extreme aridity. Typically, the leaves, stems, or roots of these plants serve as water reservoirs.
The Latin word sucus, which means juice or sap, is where the word succulent first appeared. Their leaves typically have a meaty, plump, and thick texture to assist them conserve water and reduce water loss.
Are cacti succulents?
There can be some confusion because cacti and succulents are sometimes classed together and other times they are not. A distinct subset of the succulent genus is the cactus or cacti. One of the largest families of succulents in the world is the cactus family, or Cactaceae.
The Greek word kaktos, which means spiky plant, is where the term “cactus” originates. Cacti belong to the succulent family because they are fleshy plants that can store water. This class of plants is notable for its fleshy stems that act as water reservoirs, prickly or hairy coating, and scant, if any, leaves.
.
These distinguishing features make cacti nearly instantly recognizable solely by their outward appearance. In general, all succulents are termed succulents, however not all cacti are called succulents. However, depending on your information source, meanings and terminologies may change.
Cacti are frequently left out of the succulent category by horticulturists. However, for the vast majority of us who enjoy succulents or cultivate them as a hobby, these distinctions in definitions and classifications are not particularly significant.
Where are they from?
Succulents can be found in their natural environments all over the world. They have a diverse and extensive range of habitats, and they frequently live where no one else would. From Africa to North and South America, the majority originate in arid regions, deserts, and semi-deserts. Other species are found in mountainous areas and rain forests.
These plants have become exceptionally resilient and adaptive to environmental conditions that are typically too harsh for other plants to survive, such as high temperatures and low precipitation. Natural habitats for some succulents include arid lakes and seashores, which, because to their high concentrations of dissolved minerals, can be harmful to other plant species.
How do you care for a succulent plant?
I adore succulents, and they require little maintenance. Succulent plants require less maintenance than other types of plants. Your succulent will flourish as long as you take care of the three fundamental factors.
Generally speaking, to properly care for your succulent plant. You want adequate sunlight, not long stretches of intense sunlight. Succulents require soil that drains properly, or soil that doesn’t retain water. And enough fertilizer for your plant to develop new leaves and roots.
Are succulents indoor plants?
Both inside and outside, I have succulents. There are succulents almost everywhere. There are a few things you should watch out for when keeping succulents indoors in order to ensure their success.
As long as they are placed close to a window, succulents can flourish indoors. By the window, succulents do not require direct sunshine. For optimal lighting, place them on a south-facing window. If grown indoors, succulents require far less water, so make sure the soil you use drains effectively.
Do succulents need sun?
Almost all plants require sunlight to survive. Succulents are no exception. But it’s crucial to comprehend how much sunlight a succulent requires to not just survive, but also develop.
The majority of succulents can withstand modest sun exposure—roughly 6 hours per day. Before exposing your succulent to the entire six hours of sunlight, you typically need to gradually adapt them to the sun.
How often do you water succulents?
All plants will die without water, but sometimes it’s difficult to remember to water your plants each day to ensure their survival. Fortunately, succulents don’t require a lot of water, but you still need to take care not to overwater them.
As a general rule, water your succulents when the soil feels dry and wait until the soil is totally dry before watering again. You can avoid root rot by using a soil that drains efficiently so that your succulent doesn’t spend the entire day sitting in moist soil.
How can you determine whether a succulent is genuine?
The three main elements—leaf form and texture, soil texture, and the planter it’s in—could reveal a fake succulent’s forgery. Every one of the fake succulents we examined had some positive qualities as well as certain drawbacks. Here is a more detailed look if you’re considering purchasing any of the other products we examined because you like the way they appear or they better suit your needs financially.
Leaf Shape, Texture, and Color
This might be the key characteristic that distinguishes a fake succulent from a real one. If realism is your primary concern, the leaves, which are the most noticeable component of the fake plant, should guide your choice.
- Color didn’t seem to improve or worsen how authentic the plants appeared. The pink plant in the Crate & Barrel planter was the most unnatural-looking of the group, but the West Elm plant’s leaves had a wonderful pinkish tint at the tips that didn’t look manufactured.
- The selections that included a variety of succulent plant species had the advantage of appearing more natural overall. We liked how the artificial burro’s tail hung over the edge of the planters from Target and Crate & Barrel.
- Some of the succulents at Target had a pleasant fuzzy texture that enhanced their realistic appearance and feel. The Target plants are an excellent value for the money if you anticipate people reaching out to touch them. However, the huge, green, spiky, aloe-like plant in the Target planter had a few lines that made it clear that it was made of molded plastic.
- In terms of appearance and persuasiveness, the plants from Pottery Barn and Target were really similar. The succulents from Pottery Barn also had a little amount of roughness, which helps to dull the plastic-like gloss.
- At whatever angle or distance, the IKEA plants appeared to be the most artificial. They genuinely cannot pass for anything other than plastic, and they resembled toys more than living things.
Soil Texture
Look at the dirt to determine whether a succulent is real or phony. A lot may be done to drive home the deception, even with soil that appears organic. It’s important to remember, though, that you can easily add genuine soil to a fake plant container to give it a realistic touch without having to take care of actual plants.
- The loose, clumping soil at the Crate & Barrel plant is a really lovely touch, however in other spots, the clay was uneven and exposed styrofoam underneath.
- The soil of the Pottery Barn plant was covered with a layer of pebbles that were adhered together, adding a genuine touch.
- Many gardeners add a layer of gravel to the soil beneath their plants. However, where the plants were placed into the base, you could see extra adhesive if you peeled back the leaves.
- The soil at the IKEA factory has the most artificial appearance; it resembles a flat pool of plastic with a black hue that has been haphazardly formed into tiny round balls.
- Although the soil of the Target and West Elm plants was likewise made of molded plastic, it had been given a more realistic texture. However, the West Elm plant blocked the majority of the little planter’s aperture, making it particularly difficult to discern if the soil was disturbed at first glance. On the Target plant, it was easy to discern several areas where the faux dirt texture wasn’t entirely applied.
Planter Styles
Most individuals who want to nurture genuine plants appreciate selecting lovely pots to place them in. A nice-looking planter helps sweeten the deal. If your choice comes down to the design, shape, or size of the planter, that’s a completely reasonable approach to make your decision because the majority of these fake plants’ leaves and dirt appear to be solid.
- The Crate & Barrel planter has a great concrete appearance, as we said above, but the finish is fake (although convincing), so the planter isn’t as substantial as you might anticipate.
- Similar clean lines and a design that would look fine on a narrow bookshelf or ledge characterize the planters from Pottery Barn and Target. Despite utilizing various measurements on their retail pages, they are nearly the same size.
- IKEA’s and West Elm’s little cup planters share a similar minimalist aesthetic. The West Elm planter had a lovely ceramic container more like to what you might choose for this succulent at a home store than the IKEA planters, which had containers that somewhat resembled plastic cups.
Exist true succulents?
Succulent plants, sometimes referred to as succulents in botany, are plants having thickened, fleshy, and engorged portions that typically serve to retain water in arid regions or soil conditions. Due to the fact that it frequently can only be used as an accurate characteristic at the single species level, it is a feature that is not used scientifically for the definition of the majority of plant families and genera. The Latin word sucus, which means “liquid” or “sap,” is where the word succulent originates. [1] Water can be stored by succulent plants in a variety of parts, including the leaves and stems. Some succulent organs can contain up to 9095 percent water. [2] Since roots are sometimes included in definitions, geophytes that endure adverse conditions by dying back to underground storage organs may be referred to as succulents. The term “succulent” is occasionally employed in horticultural contexts in a way that excludes species that botanists would classify as succulents, such as cacti. Because of their eye-catching and distinctive appearance, as well as their propensity to flourish with only a small amount of care, succulents are frequently grown as ornamental plants.
There are several succulent species found within many plant groups (more than 25 plant families).
[3] The majority of species are succulents in some families, including Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, and Crassulaceae. These water-preserving plants frequently live in deserts and other hot, dry climates as their homes. Succulents are well-suited to surviving in an ecosystem with restricted water sources because they can grow well on scarce water sources like mist and dew.
Succulents: are they pricey?
Beautiful plants known as succulents can store water in a variety of forms, including leaves and stalks. Despite being mostly from the desert, they are becoming more and more popular in home décor because of their tolerance. You could be tempted to get one, but you’re unsure of their cost.
Succulents are typically inexpensive. However, the price of a succulent increases with its rarity. It won’t be too difficult to get a common succulent from the neighborhood nursery or a reliable online retailer for a reasonable price.
Blue Bunny succulents: are they real?
The most prevalent phony succulent images on the internet are simply real succulent images that have been improved and altered. The succulent known as Bunny Ear is an excellent illustration of photoshopping (Monilaria moniliformis or Monilaria obconica). Although they are naturally green and cute, these plants are often depicted in pink, purple, or aqua blue hues in photographs.
True succulent hues will be saturated by additional photo modifications to make them appear more more vibrant. The blue succulents in the accompanying image have been saturated to display colors that do not naturally occur.
Pink succulents: are they real?
Succulent plants exist in a range of forms, dimensions, and hues. Different hues of green may come to mind when people think of succulents, which are often referred to as drought-tolerant plants or desert plants.
Succulents actually come in a wide range of hues. Pink-hued succulents are among my all-time favorite colors, and I have a lot of favorites.
Pink succulents have the most beautiful appearances and change color according on the quantity and quality of light they receive. Pink succulents look fantastic on their own and also complement other succulents of all colors beautifully.
Here are 15 Stunning Pink Succulents You Would Love:
The distinctive features of moonstones are their hefty, oval-shaped succulent leaves, which come in a variety of pink, purple, mauve, and blue-green hues. They prefer direct sunlight and are indigenous to Mexico. They require a soil that drains properly. In between waterings, let the soil dry out. They can withstand minor freezing.
These are indigenous to South Africa, grow in bunches, and stay short and low. They feature leaves that range in color from green to pink to purple, and the stems and areas around the leaves of the plant are covered in white threads or hair-like growth. These prefer a soil that drains well and, if left in moist soil, are prone to fungal infections. Needs filtered, strong light.
Due of its beauty and toughness, a hybrid echeveria that is particularly well-liked. Grayish-blue leaves in the shape of a rosette, with a hint of purple and pink. The more sunlight it receives, the more vibrant the purple and pink tones become. It produces lovely flowers that are brilliant coral pink. Since it enjoys sunny conditions, this echeveria will thrive in either full sun or light shade with lots of sunlight. requires a soil that drains effectively.
Wide leaves on this lovely echeveria hybrid have distinct pink margins and come in lilac, mauve, and powdered blue colors. They blossom with stunning, deep orange blooms. Although it prefers direct sunshine, it can withstand other types of lighting, including partial shade and direct sunlight. requires a soil that drains effectively.
Echeveria Lauis, a native of Mexico, has grayish-blue leaves with a tinge of pink and mauve around the edges. These are exceptionally appealing plants that produce stunning purplish-mauvish pink flowers. Like the majority of echeverias, they are simple to grow and maintain. Give your plants enough sunlight and a soil that drains effectively. When the soil is dry, water it.
This lovely echeveria, which is native to Mexico, features powder-blue leaves with pinkish undertones along the borders. very simple to grow, cultivate, and spread. can be multiplied by taking leaf and stem cuttings, gathering seeds, or beheading. These can endure various lighting situations, although they choose a site that is sunny and bright. produces lovely coral pink blossoms. requires a soil that drains effectively.
Sedum Rubrotinctum ‘Aurora,’ a plant native to Mexico, has tiny, jelly bean-shaped leaves that are a light shade of pinkish mauve. As it is exposed to more sunlight, its pink hue grows stronger. They bloom with vibrant yellow flowers. Sedums are incredibly low maintenance plants that require very little care. Give your plants a lot of sunlight and a soil that drains nicely. These are among the most straightforward to grow from leaf and stem cuttings.
Graptoveria ‘Bashful’ is a hybrid that grows in stemless rosettes and has thick, plump leaves with rose-pink tinges on the tips that are a light apple-green in color. When exposed to additional sunlight, the pink hue on the leaves becomes more vibrant. prefers well-draining potting soil and bright, sunny situations.
The hybrid graptoveria ‘Debbie’ resembles echeverias in appearance. They have delicate, fleshy, pointed leaves that have a soft purple-blue tint and turn reddish-pink when exposed to direct sunlight or when under stress. It’s quite simple to develop and take care of this hybrid. seedlings, leaves, or stems may be used for propagation. Will withstand both full sun and little shade. In between waterings, let the soil dry out. Plant in a potting mix that drains properly.
Graptopetalum “Copper Roses,” a native of Mexico and Arizona, has stunning rosettes that range in color from light yellow-green to purple, pinkish-mauve. When exposed to the sun, the pinkish tones grow more intense. For them to display their full color potential, they require intense light. These plants require little maintenance. Give your plants a lot of sunlight and a soil that drains nicely.
These are plants with small, compact, plump leaves that are light blue-green in color with pinkish-red ends that are native to Central Mexico, and they grow in low-growing clusters of miniature rosettes. Stress, lower temperatures, and sun exposure make the pink color more intense. These are simple to grow and spread. They favor a sunny environment with lots of light. They require a potting soil that drains properly. Only water the soil if it is dry.
Their narrow, broad leaves range in color from pastel lavender to bluish-gray with a tinge of pastel pink when exposed to full sun. They grow as rosettes and are native to Mexico. These plants develop quickly. They produce white and yellow flowers that resemble stars. They favor places that are sunny or bright and potting soil that drains well.
The hybrid plant known as Graptosedum ‘Francesco Baldi’ was created by crossing Sedum Pachyphyllum with Graptopetalum Paraguayense. Except for the leaves being narrower and plumper, it resembles Graptopetalum paraguayense (Ghost Plant) in appearance. With stems that sprawl, spread, and expand as they grow, it generates rosettes. The leaves are large and thick, and they come in a variety of shades, including pastel lavender-pink, powdery blue-gray, and light blue-green. The plant bears vivid flowers in the form of stars. These are simple to cultivate and keep up. They do need a potting mix that drains properly and a lot of sunlight.
Calico Kitten, also known as Crassula Pellucida Variegata, is a lovely plant with heart-shaped, multicolored variegated leaves. The leaves are a mixture of several tones of pinks and creams, as well as various shades of green, ranging from pale green to golden green. When under direct sunlight, they take on a dark purple color. When placed in a hanging basket, the plant trails beautifully. They blossom in white. These require a soil that drains well. Only water the soil if it is dry. The initial maintenance of this plant might be challenging, but with patience and the right care, they become more resilient.
The Crassula Perforata (String of Buttons), a succulent native to South Africa, sprawls and piles on top of itself as it grows. They have tiny, compact leaves that resemble spirals and wrap around the stem. The leaves have rose pink borders and a soft light green tint. When exposed to additional sun, the color deepens. When planted together, String of Buttons and other succulents with pink tones complement each other beautifully. Maintaining this plant is simple. Give your plants enough sunlight and a potting mix that drains effectively.
Please visit my Resource Page for additional suggestions if you’re wondering where to buy succulents online.
About
You’ve come to the correct location if, like me, you enjoy succulents. This website is a repository for the succulent-growing knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years and am still learning. Although I am by no means an expert on succulents and cacti, this website was created as a result of years of hard work, love, and many mistakes and learning opportunities.